Some miles away across the Fells on the northern border of Westmorland stand the still impressive ruins of Brougham Castle and it was after he had visited it in the 1540s that John Leland noted “About a dim from the castell there is a village called Burgham, and ther is a gret pilgrimage to our Ladye”.
Waterton printed this statement in his list of statues, devotions and pilgrimages, but obviously could find nothing more. My fairly rudimentary search has not yielded anything. From what Leland says I think he must be referring to the old parish church of Brougham, which is at some distance from the village and castle. Known as Ninekirks it is dedicated to St Ninian, which suggests considerable antiquity, and the churchyard has yielded evidence of what appears to have been an early Christian monastic site. The church itself, which has some medieval grave slabs from its predecessor, was rebuilt in the 1650s by the formidable Lady Anne Clifford. It is believed, or claimed, to be one of only three churches to have been built in that sterile decade.
There are online websites about the church at
Ninekirks from Wikipedia, St Ninian's Church, Brougham, Cumbria
from Visit Churches, Ninekirks from Great English Churches, St Ninians Church Ninekirks steeped in Brougham history
from All things Brougham, Brougham St Ninian's Church from Visit Cumbria, Brougham, St Ninian Ninekirk Church, Penrith, Cumbria from Britain Express and Touching the lost past of Ninekirks from bitaboutBritain
Whatever the pilgrimage recorded by Leland it was clearly one in a series of events on a site long established for Christian worship.
May Our Lady of Brougham pray for The King and all the Royal Family and for us all
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